“The ANC did not present a credible plan to the people of South Africa, whereas the DA did, and it did so by talking about the issues that face the citizens and the solutions for these problems. We want to build a better South Africa to realise the dream we had for South Africa in 1994. It’s not an easy task but more and more South Africans are starting to believe that the DA can make it happen,” Seabe asserts. New kids on the block turned Kingmakers Often described as a radical leftist party, the EFF, led by former ANC youth league president, Julius Malema, who went from President Zuma’s one-time protégé and loyalist to arch-rival, has come a long way despite his party achieving a distant third in the local elections. Since its inception in 2013, the EFF’s support has grown in numbers. National chairman of the EFF, Dali Mpofu said he was “extremely happy” with the party’s progress in the local government election‚ despite falling short of the 10 percent national support it had hoped to win. “As of 2014‚ we are starting from a zero base. Anything we get is a bonus,” Mpofu says. “For a new kid on the block with little experience‚ we outstretched ourselves. We pulled it off. We managed to have candidates across the country. For a party without funding it stretched us a lot. With the muscle power of our opponents and with our relative inexperience‚ what we have achieved is phenomenal,” Mpofu adds. Mpofu detailed how part of the thinking behind entering candidates in all areas across the country was about changing the political landscape; and change the political landscape they did. Malema has drawn support for his party largely by promising to nationalise banks and land, and redistribute these among poor black people, policies that both the main opposition and the ruling party have found particularly difficult to stomach. Even so, the EFF has positioned itself as ‘the party to watch’. An odd pair The DA/EFF combination is an odd one at best. These two main opposition parties are world’s apart where economic policy is concerned. The DA is looking to making it 30
easier to do business in SA, in a bid to grow the economy amid an economic slump and high unemployment. The EFF on the other hand is an advocate of the nationalisation of mines and banks, and the expropriation of white-owned land without compensation, which the DA, and the ANC for that matter, have deemed unpalatable. Although worlds apart, the common thread is the efforts to dislodge the ruling party, perhaps the greatest motivation of all, for both parties. “We want to be the best we can to stop patronage and destroy a very arrogant organisation in the ANC,” Maimane told reporters in Johannesburg.
For a new kid on the block with little experience‚ we outstretched ourselves. We pulled it off. We managed to have candidates across the country. With the muscle power of our opponents and with our relative inexperience‚ what we have achieved is phenomenal
Seabe also commented: “President Zuma’s actions are deplorable. His actions undermine the rule of law, the Constitution and the fight against corruption. Holding the President accountable is the DA’s Constitutional responsibility. South Africans are tired of corruption and the DA is at the forefront of fighting this disease. And if fighting corruption is top our detriment, so be it!” Council meetings post pacts Weeks later the DA, with the EFF’s support, elected Herman Mashaba as Johannesburg mayor, marking the end of the ANC’s Parks Tau’s term in the city. The council meeting was eventful,
with a number of objections and in an unfortunate string of events, including ANC councillor, Nonhlanhla Mthembu dying after collapsing during the meeting. In the city of Tshwane, during its council meeting, DA councillor Solly Msimanga was elected executive mayor, with his nomination completely unopposed. The Nelson Mandela Bay inaugural council meeting was in disarray as the ANC caucus‚ now in opposition‚ booed, raised multiple objections, and staged a walkout reminiscent of the EFF in parliament many times before. The DA’s Athol Trollip took the executive mayoral seat, and in his speech declared “change has come to Nelson Mandela Bay”. The DA has governed the City of Cape Town for more than a decade now and in furthering its reach campaigned and committed to implement change that creates jobs, delivers better services and stops corruption. “This is what can be expected in the 33 municipalities governed by the DA. Residents can expect a caring and responsive government that serves all residents, especially the poor,” says Seabe. In this case, only time will tell. Can the ANC salvage what’s left? Admittedly, the ANC has had trouble transitioning itself from a liberation movement to a modern political party operating within the confines of a constitutional democracy in the 21st century. With elections and inaugural council meetings concluded, the ruling party is now faced with preparations for its next elective conference, which will undoubtedly be tumultuous and strenuous on the party, but perhaps also present an opportunity for much needed reflection and honesty amongst comrades. ANC leaders will have to make bold and possibly unpopular decisions despite the risk of alienating others if they are to come back from this defeat. Issues such as university funding, e-tolls in Gauteng, university fees must fall, and the Gupta state capture issue will need to be high on the agenda in consideration of leadership. The question remains, does the ANC have the political will and moral rectitude to salvage all that has been lost? 2016 was definitely the year of the opposition. •